Research Fellow - Health Services Research (078119)

The Workforce Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW) Research Group in the School of Health Sciences requires a Research Fellow to work on a project aimed at improving the effectiveness of cancer multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) across Surrey and Sussex.  The project involves supporting the implementation and evaluation of an intervention package within 11 MDTMs across several tumour types.  The intervention package comprises two tools that are already developed (MDT-FIT to help teams to evaluate and plan improvements to their teamworking; and MDT-QUic to support teams to ensure adequacy of patient information in MDTMs) and a third component that will involve the development of a streamlining protocol (to prioritise complex patient cases for MDTM discussion) using a modified Delphi consensus method.

We are looking for a researcher with excellent project management and skills to lead the qualitative component of the project, gained through research conducted in the NHS.  They will also need excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to work independently but also create and nurture a remote team culture.  The successful candidate will be individually responsible for coordinating and undertaking the implementation and evaluation of the interventions within 3-4 MDTs (alongside two other researchers who will support the remaining MDTs); and will be collectively responsible for ensuring synthesis of methods and analysis across all 11 MDTs.  It is desirable that the candidate has mixed method expertise (though a second Research Fellow will lead on the quantitative analysis).  The postholder will oversee the qualitative data collection (interviews with staff before, during and after implementation) across all MDTs and lead the analysis of this data.  Previous knowledge and experience of undertaking applied healthcare research in the UK NHS is essential, and a keen interest in the organisation of healthcare (particularly in cancer services) is desirable.  This post would particularly suit someone based in or near Brighton/Worthing Sussex area, or willing to travel to such areas on a regular basis. Flexibility in terms of working hours (including outside office hours) is essential.  Previous applicants need not reapply.

This is a fixed-term full time post for up to 12 months.

In addition to salary, you will receive a generous annual leave entitlement and excellent development opportunities. Benefits package includes salary, pension scheme, child care assistance and discounted membership to our world-renowned Surrey Sports Park.

Sitting within the University’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences has achieved substantial success and is currently ranked 3rd by the Complete University Guide 2018 and 4th by the Times and Sunday Time Good University Guide 2018. The School is a leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate education and is in the top 10 in the UK for research following the recent Research Excellence Framework assessment. In addition to this, we have been awarded Gold for our Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Further information about the University and the School of Health Sciences can be found at http://www.surrey.ac.uk/school-health-sciences.   For an informal discussion please contact Dr Cath Taylor: cath.taylor@surrey.ac.uk.

Closing Date: 20 Oct 2019
Category: Research & Teaching